Embassy of the United States

NONIMMIGRANT VISAS

Supporting Documents

Working in the United States

H-1, H-2, H-3, L-1, O-1 & O-2 Visas: Principal Applicant

Together with the mandatory documents, you must bring the following supporting documents:

All principal applicants excluding Blanket L-1 applicants

• Work experience letters from your previous employers that indicate your employment history, experience and skills
  
  
• Original university degree certificate, mark sheets and transcripts
  
• Relevant diplomas and certificates
  
  
• A photocopy of each of the documents listed above
  
  
• A letter from the petitioning employer that confirms their plan to employ/train you and outlines your proposed duties 
  
  
• A letter from your employer that states how long you have worked for the company. Applicable to L-1 applicants only 
  
  
• Pay stubs from your current or last place of employment and a recent income tax return
  

It is recommended that you also bring the following documents if available:   Original Form I-797, Notice of Action; Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker; and, Labor Condition Application (LCA). Applicable to H-1 applicants only

Bring all the documents for a principal applicant, as shown above, except the original Form I-797 and Form I-129. Instead, bring the following documents:

• Three photocopies of the original Blanket Form I-797, Notice of Action
• Three photocopies of the original Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition

If you are a first time principal applicant, bring the following items:

• Names and current phone numbers of the personnel managers at your current place of employment and those from your previous places of employment
• Photos of the inside and outside of your current or last employer's place of business
• Names and contact information of two co-workers from your current or last place of employment
• Names and contact information of two co-workers from previous places of employment
• A complete resume and a cover letter that describes your current work duties in detail
• Personal bank records for the last six months
• U.S. company information: photos of the inside and outside of the company's offices, prospectus, brochure and annual report

Further Instructions & Information:

• Issuance of a visa is not guaranteed because you bring supporting documents
• A Consular Officer relies mainly on the oral visa interview to determine eligibility for a visa
• The Visa Section will not accept documents received directly from an employer by mail or fax. All documents should be brought by the applicant to the visa interview
• Present only valid documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa
• It is the responsibility of the nonimmigrant visa applicant to prove to the Consular Officer that they do not intend to immigrate

To see the Mandatory Documents > click here

H-4, L-2 & O-3 Visas: Spouse/Children

Together with the mandatory documents, you must bring the following supporting documents:

If you apply for your visa with your spouse

• Original marriage registration certificate
• Wedding ceremony photos and wedding invitation. At least five, but no more than ten, of each
• Original birth certificate for each child

If you apply for your visa separately

• Bring all other supporting documents required for the H-4, L-2 and O-3 visas. (See above)
• A good quality photocopy of your spouse's passport -- all 36 pages -- that must include a copy of their valid U.S. visa.  The copied pages must be readable and the photo must be clear enough to allow identification
• Copy of the your spouse's Form I-797, Notice of Action, Form I-129 and Labor Condition Application (LCA), if applicable
• A copy of each of your spouse's work experience letters
• A letter from your spouse's employer that describes your relationship with your spouse and your purpose of travel
• A copy of the letter from your spouse's employer that confirms their plan to employ/train your spouse and that outlines his/her proposed duties
• Pay stubs from your spouse's current place of employment and a recent income tax return

Further Instructions & Information:

• Issuance of a visa is not guaranteed because you bring supporting documents
• A Consular Officer relies mainly on the oral visa interview to determine eligibility for a visa
• The Visa Section will not accept documents received directly from an employer by mail or fax. All documents should be brought by the applicant to the visa interview
• Present only valid documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa
• It is the responsibility of the nonimmigrant visa applicant to prove to the Consular Officer that they do not intend to immigrate

To see the Mandatory Documents > click here